The GPU is useful for quick on the fly transcoding of video. They only make x16 cards (or slow underpowered x1 ones). Putting the HBA in the second x16 ("elect

The GPU is useful for quick on the fly transcoding of video. They only make x16 cards (or slow underpowered x1 ones). Putting the HBA in the second x16 ("electrically x8") slot makes both work at x8 speeds, as those lanes are "shared".